University News Last updated 13 January
Eastside听Jazz Festival听will bring together听internationally renowned听musicians with some of today鈥檚 most interesting and innovative talent, alongside grassroots promoters and exciting local and student musicians听to showcase听Birmingham鈥檚 thriving and creative jazz scene.听听听
The听Jazz Festival will take place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 February, and the programming is led by Head of Jazz Jeremy Price,听alongside Tony Dudley-Evans of TDE Promotions, Lecturers in Jazz Ed听Puddick and Shanti听Jayasinha, Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Enterprise Nicholas Gebhardt and Events and Venue Manager Libby Surplice.听听
Among headline artists are US saxophonist听Chris Potter听with the Pablo Held Trio, a significant force on the contemporary European jazz scene.听听Pianist听Rebecca Nash, whose career has soared in recent years, makes a prestige Aurum Trio with Henrick Jensen and Dave Smith.听BBC Big Band, widely regarded as one of the world鈥檚 leading jazz orchestras, includes collaborations with RBC vocalists Julie Claire and Poppy Baker. And the听Olie Brice Quartet听鈥� masters of original music and free improvisation 鈥� includes听Rachel Musson, current recipient of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Composer Award, on tenor sax.听听听听
The two-day event will also spotlight students and graduates. Trombonist and alumnus听Dave Sear听鈥� now a visiting tutor at RBC 鈥� plays with his quartet, while the听Tony Levin Drum Prize, which commemorates the celebrated Midlands drummer, seeks out an exceptional student with US saxophonist听Jean Toussaint听and UK bassist听Arnie Somogyi. Big bands including Banda听Brasiliera听and RBC Jazz Orchestra are also involved.听听
Jeremy Price said: 鈥淭he Eastside Jazz Festival听aims to听celebrate Birmingham鈥檚 ever-growing听and diverse听jazz scene and strengthen the city鈥檚 position as a European centre for contemporary jazz.听听
鈥淚n this multi-venue event,听we鈥檒l听be making full use of The Bradshaw and Recital Halls, purpose-built听Eastside听Jazz Club, and populating the foyers with wall-to-wall music.听听And听we鈥檙e听introducing a roaming ticket so audiences can dip into the many and varied sessions to ensure an immersive festival experience.鈥澨�